Improvement in maneuvering heavy guns



J. STEWART.

Gun-Carriage MPETERS, PHOTO-LITHOGRAPHER, WASMIIETON. D C

Patented Nov. 26, 1861.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFIC JOSEPH STEWART, OF SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA.

IMPROVEMENT lN MANEUVERiNG HEAVYGUNS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 33,803, dated November 26, 1861.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOSEPH STEWART, of the city and county of San Francisco and State of California, have invented a new and Improved IVIaneuvering-lVIachine for Running Heavy Guns from and into Ba tery; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description of the construction and operation of the same, reference being had to the annexed drawing, making a part of this specification, in Which A represents the chassis, and R R the rails of the same.

B represents the gun-carriage, and O C the cheeks.

S is a shaft attached to the rear part of the chassis, with a maneuvering-wheel W attached to each or either of 'its ends, and a ratchet and paw], as shown at P. A rope or chain D is attached at both ends to the carriage B, and its bight passes over a pin on the shaft S.

From the specification as above, and the drawing referred to, the nature of the apparatus will be easily understood.

It consists, simply, of a wheel and shaft applied to the rear part of the chassis, with a rope or chain having both ends fastened to the gun-carriage, the bight of the rope being passed over a pin on the shaft, so that when it is desired to run the gun from the battery, the truck-wheels of the gun-carriage being thrown into gear, two men by means of the wheel W can easily and expeditiously accomplish the Work while standing upon the ternplein and protected from the enemys fire. The ratchet and pawl P keep the gun in position. When the gun is to be run into battery, the cannoneers apply themselves at the wheel, remove the pawl from the ratchet, and allow the gun to be run forward upon the inclined rails of the chassis and the truck- Wheels be thrown out of gearor secured with substantial chocks.

By the use of this apparatus three men can Work a heavy ten-inch gun, and in half the time for which it now requires four men, and in case of necessity two men could work a gun. For extremely heavy guns the shaft S should have gearing attached to it.

By the present method of working guns the men are necessarily upon the platform, and consequently exposed to the enemys fire.

The advantages of this machine may be summed up as follows:' First, three cannoneers and a gunner can work a gun as effectively as four cannoneers and a gunner withoutit and in a much less space of time; secondly, should'it become necessary, one cannonoer and a gunner can Work a gun; thirdly, the gun can be worked with much less fatigue to the men; fourthly, there is no danger of accident from the gun running into battery too freely; fifthly, the cannoneers are not exposed to the enemys fire while run ning the gun from and into battery.

Having thus described my invention and its advantages, I would state that I do not claim any new principle in the power used, but merely its application to the purpose named. In other words,

What I claim as my invention is- The combination of the shaft S and rope or chain D with the inclined chassis A and guncarriage B, substantially as described, and for the uses and purposes as hereinbefore set forth.

J. STEWART.

WVitnesses:

WM. STANWOOD, CHAS. R. BOND. 

